Chapter 22
Mia
It had been a good day, one that left a smile on my face even after it was over, but of course, it couldn’t last. That night, I had a particularly bad nightmare.
Talking about the past and shopping for new clothes had disturbed the memories hidden in my mind.
I dreamed of my mother, of my clothing, and of the moment I was made to burn every scrap of cloth I loved.
But that wasn’t all. I dreamed of Camp Green Hill. Years flashed by all at once, most of it was a jumbled mess, but like bright stars in a dark sky, the most painful moments stood out the clearest.
Starvation.
Electrical shock “therapy”.
Endless verbal and even sometimes physical abuse.
Layla.
I awoke gasping for air, keeping my breath completely silent out of habit. My memories of Camp Green Hill still weren’t whole, but it was enough. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead and I shivered.
“Auggie?”
The word was halfway out of my mouth when I noticed the dark, silent bedroom around me and I remembered that I was alone.
Oh, right. It was the middle of the night, and Auggie had to work tomorrow.
Of course, he was asleep in his own bed.
I’d gotten so used to having the man on hand, sitting vigil at my bedside or staying up late to keep me company after a nightmare, that I’d forgotten he couldn’t always be at my side.
Auggie had his own life, and he needed his rest. I shouldn’t disturb him.
But I also didn’t want to be alone.
Maybe there was a compromise.
With my limbs still shaking from the after effect of the nightmare, I crawled out of my borrowed bed and slipped out of the bedroom. The whole apartment was dark and quiet, and I stepped carefully on bare feet as I approached the door to Auggie’s bedroom.
My hand hesitated on the doorknob.
Was this all right?
Auggie said I could ask him for anything, but maybe this was too much.
I caught sight of the scars on the back of my hand. The skin there was rough and twisted, but also healed, partly because of Auggie’s care. Even if this was asking too much, he wouldn’t hold it against me.
The bedroom behind the door was completely silent except for Auggie’s breathing. I tried to remain quiet as I curled up on the floor next to the bed. It was cold and uncomfortable, but Auggie’s hand hung over the edge of the bed just enough to remain in my line of sight. It would be enough.
However, despite my best efforts, I must have made some noise, because I’d barely managed to lie down on the floor when Auggie suddenly sat up.
“What?” he asked, bleary but alert. His gaze instantly found me, even in the dark. “Mia? Why are you on the floor?”
“I… um…”
I wanted to lie, but what could I say that would explain my presence on his floor?
In the end I hung my head and mumbled, “I had a nightmare.”
Auggie stared at the floor for a moment before understanding dawned on him. He realized what I’d planned on doing and he scowled.
“Hold on, I’ll—”
I quickly cut him off. “No. Don’t get up. You have work tomorrow. I’ll be fine. I’ll just… go back to my room.”
I started to get up, but Auggie caught my wrist.
“No, if you’re scared you shouldn’t be alone. Um… here.”
There was a rustling sound as Auggie moved on the bed, making extra space among the blankets. Then, he patted the mattress next to him.
“If you’re comfortable with it, you can sleep here.”
I was too dumbfounded to argue. My limbs moved automatically, and I found myself slipping under the body-warmed sheet without another word.
Auggie was careful not to touch me, but there was only so much space on the bed, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body like a furnace.
The trembling in my limbs stopped and all thoughts of my nightmare were chased from my mind.
How could I possibly think about anything else when Auggie lay just inches away, and I was surrounded by his familiar sent.
Once I was settled, Auggie lay his head back on his pillow and quickly fell back asleep, as though having me in bed with him were the most natural thing in the world.
Our easy comfort with each other felt significant, and I wanted to think about it more. Yet, once my nightmare was chased away, my own fatigue caught up with me. My eyelids felt heavy, and after only a few quiet moments of listening to our shared breathing, I also drifted off to sleep.